Volunteers - and plenty of festivities - drive success of Event City brand

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The truth behind the success of the Event City brand is that it wouldn't be possible without the time and talents of thousands of area volunteers.

Events and organizations of all sizes rely on people willing to help plan, organize, set up and clean up. Volunteers arrive early and stay late at events. They help recruit family and friends as both consumers and givers. And most of the time their only reward is an event staff T-shirt, a complementary beverage, or a simple "thank you."

Ask any event organizer and they'll tell you the difference between a good event and a great event is the amount of volunteers willing to help out.

Many hands make light work, indeed. They also make it a lot of fun and at the end of the day, week and year, volunteers make a remarkable difference in all aspects of our lives.

Saturday is the 22nd annual "Make a Difference Day," a movement dedicated to organizing volunteers to create positive change in their communities.

People from all walks of life are encouraged to identify a problem or an opportunity in their community and take action to address it.

It could be as simple as helping a neighbor rake the leaves from their lawn or spending some time at the food pantry. Or it could be as complex as creating a new fundraiser to help both promote and sustain a worthy local charitable cause. The latter is happening in downtown Oshkosh on Saturday.

The Downtown Business Improvement District and a small army of volunteers have been organizing the annual downtown Halloween Event and this year they've added a Spooktacular Chili Cook-off. It's all happening in and around Opera House Square and the best part is proceeds will benefit the Day by Day Warming Shelter in Oshkosh in honor of "Make a Difference Day."

An arts and crafts fair will line North Main Street starting at 9 a.m. That's also when the amateur chili contestants will fire up their cookers in preparation for tastings at noon. More than 25 teams will compete for cash prizes and bragging rights including a people's choice award. Hungry visitors will be able to taste all of the competition chili (10 for $5) and enjoy a micro-beer garden.

The Halloween event runs from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. and includes trick-or-treat stations, a petting zoo, children's games, a costume contest (with the winner featured on www.thenorthwestern.com), a maze and live music. Activities will require a ticket which can be purchased for 25 cents.

The Day by Day Warming Shelter, 449 High Ave., will also host an open house on Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. Tour the shelter, learn about volunteer opportunities and make a donation of personal hygiene items and cleaning supplies.

Help make a difference - volunteer, tour or just participate - on Saturday in downtown Oshkosh.

Other event highlights include a concert by The Jazz Ambassadors (the official touring big band of the U.S. Army) on Thursday night at the Grand Opera House. Admission is free, but tickets are required. Contact the Grand, 100 High Ave., at (920) 424-2350.

The historic theater continues to get into the Halloween mood with Spirit of the Grand guided tours this weekend. Actors lead you on a tour of the rumored haunted theater complex while retelling some of their more famous stories of the unexplained. Admission is $15 and tours run on the hour starting at 7 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.

If you're in the mood for some great local music, look no further than Becket's, 2 Jackson St. Saturday night it's the Dead Horses and on Halloween night they are hosting a special performance by Burt Klein - The Jazz Vampyre. There is no cover charge for either show.

Finally, stock up on those treats as the city of Oshkosh will hold trick or treating from 5 to 7 p.m. on Oct. 31.

Happy Halloween, Oshkosh!

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Volunteers - and plenty of festivities - drive success of Event City brand

The truth behind the success of the Event City brand is that it wouldn't be possible without the time and talents of thousands of area volunteers. Events and organizations of all sizes rely on people

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